Tuesday, March 31, 2009

UNCOMMON BECOMES COMMON

Hello. We have very little in common, except that I LIKE you. Do you want to be my friend? We may allow calmness, a feeling of wholeness, pleasure and happiness to rise as one, out of our friendship--our togetherness--at least for today. Thank You, God!The cat and the bird to the right, are examples of "friends" from two different worlds, who know none other than that happiness which their collaboration as friends engenders. (My cat--Bert--told me he's seen enough "ugly dog" pictures on the blogs to last him nine lifetimes, so I posted a "Cat" shot today, to mollify him and me--and my TWO lifetimes.)

FRIENDS plus ATTACHMENTS

One of my good blogger friends--click on: Kristin--inspired this topic with her Monday blog. However, I had already been thinking about it--while riding my bike Monday morning in the new dawn--on my way to the meeting of the NEW DAWN group. To be really truthful, these thoughts were beginning to form during a phone conversation with my wonderful friend of nine months, who lives near Denver.

My family is first, they are (to an extent) lovingly non-removable, non-renewable, and irreplaceable. But I gotta tell ya--I CHERISH MY FRIENDS! And maybe too much.

Friends are truly among God's greatest gifts to me, they are the stars in my earthly heaven. They enjoy to see me happy, they are saddened instantly in the time of my sorrow, they silently thrill if God has allowed me an accomplishment of note, they are--to me--PURE GOLD! Yet, they are not "attached!"

My friends and family mingle into that 'circle of wagons' which become guardians of my oftentimes wayward thoughts and behaviors, my support in neediness, and love...well, just 'because'.

The problem--if indeed it be a problem--arises when I depend on that friend or friends, or family, or Motor Scooter, or house, or car, or job, or group so much so, that I would base my happiness on that 'connection' alone.

In other words, if I say to a friend (etc.) "I depend totally on you for my true happiness", that's not a good sign, buddy. I can say (think) something like this, properly: "When you and I are together, a happiness arises between us, which I cherish as God's gift to each of us, for the (moment, day, year(s), whatever)." Then, "When you--or I-- must move on, I will thank Him who lent you to me for these memorable moments, and I will be grateful to God, for my knowing, loving, you."

Invariably--in those cases--God does have something else in mind for each of us...but it is not easy to "let go", and let Him.

Of course, I am occasionally blest with nurturing a relationships as "friends-for-life" and who of us does not wish for more than a few of those? I have several friends--of course--and keep always open-minded to greet any new people God has waiting for me, whether on blogs, in AA meetings, at work, at play, or even in my families.

I must remember that a friend is put in my life by God, for His Own use and purposes. When God blesses a friendship, much can be accomplished for Him, in His Name

One more thing. A true friend of mine does not have to be always in agreement with me conceptually regarding politics, religion--even AA--or my understanding of a Higher Power. Just that we support one another in each other's world. Saying that--I have to admit, that a seemingly perfect match of friends is those who DO share many persuasions of beliefs -grin! (Now, who is prefekt?) LOL!

Hopefully and most assuredly, how 'bout all you friends join me in staying sober this Tuesday!

I like what you said about happiness not being dependent on another. I used to think that was what relationships were about. Thankfully, I now can say that, yes, I'm happy to be with another but it's not my entire happiness.

Hello everyone! Who knows where to upload the film Avatar?I even bought the film Avatar for a SMS to http://rsskino.ru/kinofilm/avatar.html , the link was, but download fails, the system will boot quite strange cocoa something.Men, advise where to normal as quickly download film avatar?

Best of all, the promise of eternal life is a gift, freely offered to us by God (CCC 1727).

The Catholic Church teaches what the apostles taught and what the Bible teaches: We are saved by grace alone, but not by faith alone (which is what "Bible Christians" teach; see James. 2:24).

When we come to God and are justified (that is, enter a right relationship with God), nothing preceding justification, whether faith or good works, earns grace. But then God plants his love in our hearts, and we should live out our faith by doing acts of love (Gal. 6:2).

Even though only God’s grace enables us to love others, these acts of love please him, and he promises to reward them with eternal life (Rom. 2:6–7, Gal. 6:6–10).

Thus good works are meritorious. When we first come to God in faith, we have nothing in our hands to offer him.

Then he gives us grace to obey his commandments in love, and he rewards us with salvation when we offer these acts of love back to him (Rom. 2:6–11, Gal. 6:6–10, Matt. 25:34–40).

15 Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house.

16 Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father. (Matthew 5: 15-16)

Jesus said it is not enough to have faith in him; we also must obey his commandments. "Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not do the things I command?" (Luke 6:46, Matt. 7:21–23, 19:16–21).

We do not "earn" our salvation through good works (Eph. 2:8–9, Rom. 9:16), but our faith in Christ puts us in a special grace-filled relationship with God so that our obedience and love, combined with our faith, will be rewarded with eternal life (Rom. 2:7, Gal. 6:8–9).

Paul said, "God is the one who, for his good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work" (Phil. 2:13).

John explained that "the way we may be sure that we know him is to keep his commandments. Whoever says, ‘I know him,’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him" (1 John 2:3–4, 3:19–24, 5:3–4).

Since no gift can be forced on the recipient—gifts always can be rejected—even after we become justified, we can throw away the gift of salvation.

Read his letters and see how often Paul warned Christians against sin! He would not have felt compelled to do so if their sins could not exclude them from heaven (see, for example, 1 Cor. 6:9–10, Gal. 5:19–21).

Paul reminded the Christians in Rome that God "will repay everyone according to his works: eternal life for those who seek glory, honor, and immortality through perseverance in good works, but wrath and fury to those who selfishly disobey the truth and obey wickedness" (Rom. 2:6–8).

Sins are nothing but evil works (CCC 1849–1850). We can avoid sins by habitually performing good works.

Every saint has known that the best way to keep free from sins is to embrace regular prayer, the sacraments (the Eucharist first of all), and charitable acts.

Sober 36 years (March 18, 1974), I am a former symphony violinist who loves prose, poetry, drawing, music (of course!) art of many genres and philosophies.
Here I will write about my life, thoughts, addiction recovery, and almost anything else of which I know very little.
Laughter, happiness, peace, enthusiasm and love shape my life these days.
If you enjoy reading my stuff, please be welcomed here.
If you do not enjoy, please be nice and leave the room quietly--grin!!